WP did okay for not having enough miles in her legs, and not being a heat-tolerant type, and also, despite the fact that she loves climbing mountains, WP is not a natural climber. No mountains and no really tough hills on the course, just lots of north-central North Carolina rollers.

The heat was typical of central NC summer heat. High of about 93F after a wonderful foggy morning. Humidity was high, though. High enough combination that my sweat over-powered the chamois butt'r I had deployed, and by the time I applied more in an effective way ... slight abrasions for me.

WP will do fine doing RUSA Permanents. She probably should stick with a couple of the less hilly versions that are closer to her home for the next couple months (until she has her stamina back, and autumn arrives). I'm confident that the next time she comes to do this route (click here for a Trimble map), she will do better than fine.

Comment on Trimble-maps: Trimble is widely believed to significantly understate the climbing on rolling hills. I have heard that it does better on mountain climbs -- but I don't really know. Karen told me that her Garmin reported about 4000 ft of climbing for the 100+ miles that she did. That seems a more accurate estimate than the climbing that Trimble estimates for the whole ride. Strangely, I do trust the individual elevation estimates from Trimble.

In retrospect, I probably let WP bite off a bit more than she was ready to chew. However, in Feb-2010, I wrote "[i]f one never bites off more than one can chew, one is unlikely to find out the biggest bite that one can chew."

As Skiffrun says, I am not a natural climber, but when I was doing all the mountain rides a few yrs ago, I became a pretty good climber for a flatlander. I will definitely stick to the less hilly 200k's until I am more used to the mileage and the temps are more suitable for me.

Whew...yes, I bit off a bit more than I was able to chew on Saturday. But, eventually, I will be able to do such rides. I'll get a write-up done this evening while I'm either icing or heating my hamstrings.

For now, here's a linky to the strava data...and the garmin connect data. There is a difference in the elevation gain between the 2, but still in the range of 4000'.

__________________wolfpackcyclesSkiffrun: Enjoy the Ride; Ride for the enjoyment.I'm not a ONE in a MILLION kinda GIRL. I'm a ONCE in a LIFETIME kind of WOMAN -- AnonymousNRA Basic Pistol Instructor

Garmin connect says I lack the requisite permission to view the data -- or something like that.

Rides from the north side of Raleigh, heading more-or-less north and then back, average around 40 ft of climbing per mile. A bit more if one goes NW; usually a bit less if one goes NE. Unfortunately for Karen's first RUSA perm attempt, I put a lot of thought into the course.

Damn...I don't know if I'm going to get a write-up done tonight or not. I worked till 5pm, stopped at the pet store for some bones, joint pills, and fish oil for the dog. Picked up the dog from daycare and arrived home around 6:30pm.

From then, I put out some Round-Up, staked my tomato plants, staked the cucumbers (& picked a cucumber), picked okra, inside to fry up okra (farmer's market), freshen up clothes in the dryer & put away, put a load in the wash, and here I am....8:35pm.

I'll try, but it might be easier tomorrow...don't worry, I'll get one eventually.....

__________________wolfpackcyclesSkiffrun: Enjoy the Ride; Ride for the enjoyment.I'm not a ONE in a MILLION kinda GIRL. I'm a ONCE in a LIFETIME kind of WOMAN -- AnonymousNRA Basic Pistol Instructor

By the way, how does the "control" thing work? When you decide to do a ride like this, does someone from RUSA have to come out and meet you at each control to stamp something to prove you were there? Or is it strictly an honor system?

Gee, reading all that you did yesterday makes me feel like a slug. All I did was edge and mow yesterday (and go to the sto'), and that took it out of me.

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Rider

I feel like the blonde who walked into a building: You'd think I would've seen it.